The Special Needs Collection at the Bloomfield Township Public Library is a circulating multi-media collection serving youth with different needs and their caregivers. Generously funded by the Friends of the Bloomfield Township Public Library, it is one of the first public library collections of its kind in the Metro Detroit area. The collection, developed after much research and the guidance of special education staff members in the Bloomfield Hills School District, was unveiled in a grand opening celebration in January, 2009. The collection contains therapeutic toys (adapted and mainstream); speech and language therapy cards; DVDs, music & activity CDs; CD ROMs; handwriting kits; Braille books; Interactive books; and many fiction and non-fiction books for special needs kids, their peers, families, teachers, and therapists. Story Boxes are also a popular component of the collection. These special boxes contain a story and a collection of manipulatives that correspond to the items mentioned in the story. A story box is a way for children with visual impairments to experience a story. This tactual exploration of a story is not just for future Braille readers who will be using their sense of touch to decode letters and words, but also for all children who would benefit from “hands-on experiences” to help provide meaning to the words in the story.

Ellis Island was formally opened on January 1, 1892.  Over the years more than 20 million individuals were processed through the stations.  When the U.S. entered World War II  in 1941, Ellis Island became a Coast Guard Station.  It closed November 12, 1954, and was declared a National Park in 1956.  After years of disuse it was restored and in 1990, it was reopened as a museum.  The Library has several ways for you to trace your ancestors' journey through Ellis Island.  Visit our Genealogy Database page to get started. Visit the Library in person to use the Ancestory - Library Edition.  Access to this database is only allowed inside the Library.  Stop by the Adult Services Desk for more information!

On January 1, 1911, Hank Greenberg, Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman and Tiger outfielder, was born in New York City.  One of the games' most prodigious sluggers, Greenberg hit 331 home runs and drove in 1,276 runs in only nine full seasons.  Baseball's first Jewish superstar entered the Army after playing only 19 games in 1941, and did not return to the Detroit Tigers until midway through the 1945 season.  His grand slam on that season's last day won the pennant for the Tigers and propelled them toward a World Series triumph.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.  We will all be looking forward to an exciting Tigers' baseball season this year, with Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Austin Jackson!  Let's hope that 2013 brings the Tigers plenty of happiness!

The North American International Auto Show will be held January 14 - 27.  This is a wonderful time to go look at the new shiny cars and learn about new innovations.  Stop by the Library and look at Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road and Track, and Automotive News for news about the Car and Truck of the year.  Let's hope GM, Chrysler or Ford can win the top spots!

Looking for an excuse to get out of the house?  Drop by the library for a cup of hot coffee and some great conversation with your neighbors or maybe meet a brand new friend!  Fridays 10 to 11 a.m.  January 18, February 15 and March 15!   Hope to see you there!!

Every January, the American Library Association gives out various awards to children’s books published in the previous year. The Newbery Medal is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children and the Caldecott Medal honors the illustrator responsible for the most distinguished picture book for children. The BTPL Youth Department maintains a noncirculating collection of all Newbery and Caldecott winners as well as several circulating copies of all the award winners. The Newbery Medal has been in existence since 1922. Past winners include Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos (2012); The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman (2009); and A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle (1963). Awarded every year since 1938, Caldecott titles include A Ball for Daisy, by Chris Raschka (2012); The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg (1986); and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig (1970). Check these – and the dozens of other winners – out soon!

Of course you can visit our website, www.btpl.org, to find our latest programs, look up things in the catalog, and find our hours of operation, but there are many other virtual services available to you. Every month on the youth page you will find three projects to do with your little one. Selecting the “Read, Watch, Listen” tab takes you to recommended reading lists for various ages and genres. That same tab will connect you to our eLibrary where you can download eBooks and eAudio books. It is also where you can find the link to TumbleBooks, which are online storybooks for your child to read on his or her own. Finally, please make sure to look at the “Homework Help” tab. This is where you will find all of our youth databases. Youth databases cover subjects from science to social studies and everything in between. All of the content is age and academically appropriate making databases a far better search tool than Google for homework assignments.

Do you want some ideas for the next Brownie meeting?  Need to know the requirements for a Boy Scout merit badge?  Are you looking for stories to tell around the campfire?  Youth Services has a Scouting collection that includes the handbooks and badge books for the different levels of both Girl and Boy Scouts.  You can find support, ideas, and information to use with your own scout program.  These materials can be found just to the right of the story room door and are available to be checked out.

PBS will begin Season 3 of Downtown Abbey on January 6, 2013.  You can place holds on the Library's copies of the first two seasons, or watch Season 2 beginning December 2, 2012 on PBS.  There will be one new character to watch out for, Shirley MacLaine, as Martha Levinson, Lady Cora's mother.  It is certain that Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) and Martha Levinson will have their differences this season.  Get your popcorn ready for the new season!

Celebrate Henri Matisse's birthday on December 31.  Born in 1869, Henri was known most for his paintings.  However, he also designed textiles, cut outs and stained-glass windows.  The world gained a renouned artist instead of an attorney, quite by chance when, as Henri, while recouperating from an illness, began painting and drawing.  The Library has an outstanding collection of resources on Henri.

The Library has a wonderful selection of books to help you get organized for the New Year!  Make your New Year's resolution a little early, and get organized with the help of Bloomfield Township Public Library!

Stop by the Library and check out our travel collection.  We have books you can use to plan your winter getaway!  From the Bahama's to Hawaii, we have your travel needs covered!

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It’s time for the second annual Iron Chef Bloomfield Program! Children 8-12 are invited to sign up to compete in this fun cooking competition. Contestants will be divided into teams of three and each team will be tasked with creating a dish using the secret ingredient. Dishes will be judged on taste, presentation and creativity.

Iron Chef Bloomfield II will take place on December 15 at 1p.m. Registration opens on November 26. Click here to register online or call (248) 642-5800. The Youth Department would like to sincerely thank the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this program. 

Dr. Frank McGeorge visited the library on October 11, 2012 to speak about staying healthy during your senior years and to help us unveil the Library's new collection of VITALITY Kits.  You can listen to Dr. McGeorge's talk - watch the video on the BCTV website.

VITALITY Kits are a new collection of resources of senior living materials.  These VITALITY Kits cover a variety of topics including the loss or impairment of physical strength, movement, memory, vision and hearing to issues associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other issues seniors may be facing.  Kits contain instructional books, DVDs, audio CDs and activities focused on improving the quality of life for seniors.  The VITALITY Kit Collection was made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.  These kits are available to borrow for three weeks at a time and are located in the Adult Services area.  Stop by the Library today to find a kit for your needs. 

It is almost America's favorite holiday - Thanksgiving!  There are numerous websites to help you prepare the best meal ever!  Butterball is, of course, a favorite!  This site is filled with expert advice for cooking your turkey and how to use up your leftovers!  The Food Network is prepared to help you build your feast.  Let Paula Deen create and you follow!  Martha Stewart can help you with your cooking AND creating the perfect centerpiece!  Or, you may want to create your very own Thanksgiving, like your Mom used to.   Sometimes that is the best of all.  Enjoy your day with some Lion's football, too! 

Rex Stout, born December 1, 1886, created two of the most enduring characters in the mystery genre: Nero Wolfe and his sidekick Archie Goodwin.  Mr. Stout received the Grand Master Award in 1959 from the Mystery Writers of America.  In case you have never read his works,  there are several books available to borrow at the Library.

71 years ago on December 7, 1941, nearly 200 Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  The raid, which lasted little more than an hour, left nearly 3,000 dead.  Almost the entire United States Pacific Fleet was at anchor there and  just a few ships escaped damage.  Several ships were sunk or disabled while 200 aircraft on the ground were destroyed.  The Library has a vast collection of books on World War II available to borrow.